Showing results by narrator "Theresa Bakken" in All Categories

Meet Harriet. But don't be surprised if she isn't interested in meeting you. Harriet has life all figured out, and she doesn't hesitate to inform others of their shortcomings. Though her attempts to become president of the homeowner's association failed, that doesn't stop her from berating "off-leash-dog-man" or reporting the neighbor who had the audacity to leave their Easter decorations up an entire week past the holiday. The problem is, unbeknownst to her, Harriet's rigid rules and judgmental opinions are not her own.

When Amanda K. Jaros learns about the 2,160-mile Appalachian Trail after college, she walks away from a sheltered life dominated by an angry and volatile father and does something unexpected: spends six months backpacking. Alone. She expects to pass the time in the solitary and peaceful wilderness, reflecting on her life's direction. Instead, she finds herself part of a community ripe with stinky socks, buckets of ice cream, and trail magic. What matters on the trail is not a hiker's past or parents, her fears or failures, but rather, what matters is the connections we make with each other.

A retired law enforcement officer turned pilot and a former math teacher chose to leave their home in Texas for a cabin in the wilderness of Alaska. They left life as they knew it behind to start fresh in the land of the Last Frontier. Their cabin on Cub Lake was only accessible by bush plane in the summer or snow machine during the winter, making life challenging. They knew their learning curve would be steep. What they didn't realize was living on a homestead in the wilderness of Alaska would make them face obstacles they had never experienced before.

Margaret and Liz are sisters who are about to get in over their heads...They've been gifted The Seahorse Inn, a beautiful bed-and-breakfast by the beach in Cape May. Though it hasn’t been open to guests in years, the pair endeavor to reopen in time for the holidays. Problem is, they discover the charming old place is really a money pit full of more issues than they can handle on their own. On top of dealing with renovations, Margaret is surprised by an unexpected visit from her ex-mother-in-law.

In Following Alaska's Call, Ann Parker takes listeners on an intimate journey through the rugged wilderness of Alaska where she and her husband, Shon, seek solace and a fresh start after years of Shon's sacrifice and service in Texas law enforcement. This memoir captures the essence of their adventurous spirit as they navigate the challenges of living off-grid in a remote cabin by Cub Lake. Ann's vivid storytelling brings to life the beauty and harsh realities of Alaskan life, from the breathtaking landscapes to the daily struggles of survival.

Leigh's life has been ripped apart. Orphaned, she goes to live with incredibly wealthy relatives she never knew she had. Struggling to fit into her new world, she can't let go of her grief. When the police tell her the investigation into her parents' murder has hit a brick wall, she knows the only way she will ever know peace is to solve the mystery herself. With new family and friends, which includes a ghost with multiple personality issues, Leigh risks everything to find her answers.

Amidst the nonstop turmoil of the War of 1812, the decisive First Lady takes action and inspires an anxious nation. Dolley Madison faces a bitterly divided Washington City when her husband, James Madison, becomes our fourth president. The prospect of war against Great Britain threatens to tear our fragile republic apart. The "Presidentess" hosts open parties in the new President's House to unite political foes and cultivate an American identity.

What if your best days weren’t left to chance, but something you could control and activate at will? Most of us want to be a little happier, a little more focused, and a lot less stressed. We want simple approaches that are easy to fold into our everyday lives. In Sharp, you’ll discover dozens of evidence-backed strategies to help you unlock your potential and enhance your performance—whether at work, school, home, or in relationships. Cognitive scientist Therese Huston unpacks the latest neuroscience research to deliver a gold mine of techniques to help you feel your sharpest.

Margaret Wilder’s life is about to be turned upside down when her husband of 15 years abruptly leaves without an explanation. Now as their young daughters struggle to understand why their dad has been gone for a month without so much as a phone call, Margaret begins to uncover her husband’s secrets while unraveling her own long-buried feelings about their marriage. On top of all the personal turmoil, Margaret’s job at the wildlife refuge has cut back her hours, and a storm approaches that could ruin all of the hard work she’s put into one of her greatest joys.

July 1939. War is on the horizon but on Monk Island, Maine life goes on as usual. As the daughter of a lobsterman, Ellie Ames’ future seems limited until a mysterious German couple comes off the ferry with their nineteen-year-old son. From the moment she meets Karl Brink, the two become inseparable and not everyone approves because locals are suspicious of outsiders. Ellie ignores their scorn, however, and the secret she learns about Karl’s family makes her even more determined to be with him. The magical summer ends when the Brinks suddenly have to go home.

At sixteen, Susanna Bolling is like America in rebellion; she craves independence. While her brothers are off fighting for the Patriots, she longs to do more than tedious household chores and attend spinning bees in sleepy City Point, Virginia. When British General Cornwallis invades her family's Bollingbrook Plantation, she overhears his secret plan to defeat the Patriots. Much to her shock, she finds herself at the center of the war. Now America's fight for liberty hinges on her.

Sarah’s loving the boat life and spending time with Chris, but will an unexpected call from her ex change everything? Margaret is busy in the garden again and frustrated to find that the honor system for the The Cape May Garden farm stand isn’t working out according to plan. Dave is renovating his new beach house in North Cape May but still can’t decide what his plans are for the property. Donna, an old high school friend, is back in town after her marriage ends, and as she tries to figure out a new life, she’s surprised by an unexpected spark with someone new.

A big-budget movie is filming in Cape May, and one of the stars, Katherine Duffield, has rented out the Seahorse Inn for two months. Excitement overtakes Margaret and Liz until they receive the celebrity’s ridiculous list demands. Dave is thrilled at the chance to use his construction skills on the film set, but tension unexpectedly arises between him and Margaret. Irene, Dave’s sister, is back in town working on the film as a production assistant. Greg takes a leap toward his dream of opening a restaurant with the support of Liz, but is it the best choice for their family?

As Dave settles into his new beach house, Margaret is happy to assist, though she also notices a lot of his decisions lately don’t involve her. She can’t help but wonder if the long-term plans for his future include her and her daughters.

1934. Isabel longs to escape her squalid San Francisco neighborhood. While her mother struggles to make ends meet and her older brother serves with the CCC at Yosemite, she manages the household and comforts her younger sister with stories about an idyllic imaginary world. Desperate for a taste of freedom, she takes matters into her own hands-with tragic consequences.

Quilt appraiser Keely Fairchild is thrilled that the Danger Cove Quilt Guild has teamed up with the Historical Museum to make miniature quilts to decorate the museum's Christmas tree. To join in the holiday spirit, she offers free appraisals of holiday quilts during the ornament-making workshop.

Despite a few harrowing incidents with nervy Bridezillas, Addy Winters’ small town party planning business has been 100% murder free—until now. Everything changes when her former classmate, now a legendary rockstar, comes home to Fox Valley to die. Leno Masterson's dying wish is a star-studded 'after-I'm-dead' extravaganza in place of a funeral, and who better to plan it than his old friend Addy? But when he turns up dead four days earlier than the date-with-death he's circled on his calendar, Addy suspects that somebody helped him along.

Josiah Reynolds is a beekeeper trying to stay financially afloat by selling honey at the Farmers' Market. She finds her world turned upside down when a man is found dead in her beeyard, only to discover the victim is her nemesis. The police are calling the brutal death murder and Josiah is the number one suspect! Fighting an unknown enemy in the glamorous world of Thoroughbreds, oak-cured bourbon, and antebellum mansions, Josiah struggles to uncover the truth in a land that keeps its secrets well.

In a Paris art gallery, Dr. Michael Pearce comes upon a sculpture by the artist Katherine Morgan. His discovery of the vivid bronze artwork sends Pearce reeling back into his past. Devastatingly lifelike, the sculpture evokes memories of a summer many years earlier when Michael and Katherine met as teenagers by a lake in New Hampshire.

Born into a world of want, Anneliese’s parents struggle to make ends meet and manage her psychiatric needs. Sadly, her family, once royalty, is now cursed because of the infamous deeds of her grand uncle Lester Ackerman.